Ontario Government to Expand Nurse Practitioners Scope of Practice
TORONTO — The Ontario government has announced the start of consultations with the College of Nurses of Ontario and other healthcare partners on expanding the scope of practice for nurse practitioners. This initiative aims to leverage the training, skills, and education of nurse practitioners to provide more convenient care for Ontarians, while freeing up time for physicians to focus on patients with more complex needs.
“Our government is continuing to use every tool in our toolbox to ensure people have access to the care they need, when they need it,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “By considering changes to allow nurse practitioners to provide more care to their patients, we will connect more people to convenient primary care, while reducing the need for referrals to other providers.”
The proposed changes include:
- Cardiac Care: Allowing nurse practitioners to order and apply defibrillators during cardiac emergencies and to administer cardiac pacemaker therapy, speeding up care for patients with irregular heartbeats.
- Skin Conditions: Permitting nurse practitioners to order and perform electrocoagulation for the removal of skin tags and other lesions, enabling faster treatment for these conditions.
- Infectious Diseases: Granting nurse practitioners the authority to complete and sign mandatory blood testing forms for specific infectious diseases.
Additionally, the government is consulting on changes to improve end-of-life care. These changes would allow nurse practitioners to certify deaths in all circumstances and registered nurses to certify expected deaths, ensuring timely certifications that preserve dignity for the deceased and their families.
As part of the “Your Health” plan, these efforts aim to make it easier for highly skilled, regulated healthcare professionals, including nurse practitioners and registered nurses, to work to the full extent of their training and expertise. This will help better serve the healthcare needs of Ontarians in a connected and convenient manner.
For more updates on this initiative and other healthcare developments, stay tuned to GTA Today.
